diff --git a/packages/common/src/common/apiWrapper.js b/packages/common/src/common/apiWrapper.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/common/src/common/apiWrapper.js
rename to packages/common/src/common/apiWrapper.mjs
diff --git a/packages/common/src/common/compileCode.js b/packages/common/src/common/compileCode.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/common/src/common/compileCode.js
rename to packages/common/src/common/compileCode.mjs
diff --git a/packages/common/src/common/errors.js b/packages/common/src/common/errors.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/common/src/common/errors.js
rename to packages/common/src/common/errors.mjs
diff --git a/packages/common/src/common/eventAggregator.js b/packages/common/src/common/eventAggregator.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/common/src/common/eventAggregator.js
rename to packages/common/src/common/eventAggregator.mjs
diff --git a/packages/common/src/common/events.js b/packages/common/src/common/events.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/common/src/common/events.js
rename to packages/common/src/common/events.mjs
diff --git a/packages/common/src/common/index.js b/packages/common/src/common/index.mjs
similarity index 98%
rename from packages/common/src/common/index.js
rename to packages/common/src/common/index.mjs
index 7cead2204a..1b7750f9ae 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/common/index.js
+++ b/packages/common/src/common/index.mjs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import {
   includes,
   filter,
 } from "lodash/fp"
-import { events, eventsList } from "./events"
+import { events, eventsList } from "./events.mjs"
 
 // this is the combinator function
 export const $$ = (...funcs) => arg => flow(funcs)(arg)
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ export const retry = async (fn, retries, delay, ...args) => {
   }
 }
 
-export { events } from "./events"
+export { events } from "./events.mjs"
 
 export default {
   ifExists,
diff --git a/packages/common/src/common/validationCommon.js b/packages/common/src/common/validationCommon.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/common/src/common/validationCommon.js
rename to packages/common/src/common/validationCommon.mjs
diff --git a/packages/common/src/records/recordValidationRules.mjs b/packages/common/src/records/recordValidationRules.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5cf40260cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/common/src/records/recordValidationRules.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+export const getNewRecordValidationRule = (
+  invalidField,
+  messageWhenInvalid,
+  expressionWhenValid
+) => ({
+  invalidField,
+  messageWhenInvalid,
+  expressionWhenValid,
+})
+
+export const commonRecordValidationRules = {
+  fieldNotEmpty: fieldName =>
+    getNewRecordValidationRule(
+      fieldName,
+      `${fieldName} is empty`,
+      `record['${fieldName}'] && record['${fieldName}'].length > 0`
+    ),
+
+  fieldBetween: (fieldName, min, max) =>
+    getNewRecordValidationRule(
+      fieldName,
+      `${fieldName} must be between ${min.toString()} and ${max.toString()}`,
+      `record['${fieldName}'] >= ${min} &&  record['${fieldName}'] <= ${max} `
+    ),
+
+  fieldGreaterThan: (fieldName, min, max) =>
+    getNewRecordValidationRule(
+      fieldName,
+      `${fieldName} must be greater than ${min.toString()} and ${max.toString()}`,
+      `record['${fieldName}'] >= ${min}  `
+    ),
+}
diff --git a/packages/common/src/records/validate.js b/packages/common/src/records/validateRecord.mjs
similarity index 59%
rename from packages/common/src/records/validate.js
rename to packages/common/src/records/validateRecord.mjs
index 052a92680e..2419f35300 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/records/validate.js
+++ b/packages/common/src/records/validateRecord.mjs
@@ -1,18 +1,19 @@
 import { map, reduce, filter, isEmpty, flatten, each } from "lodash/fp"
-import { compileCode } from "../common/compileCode"
+import { compileCode } from "../common/compileCode.mjs"
 import _ from "lodash"
-import { getExactNodeForKey } from "../templateApi/hierarchy"
-import { validateFieldParse, validateTypeConstraints } from "../types"
-import { $, isNothing, isNonEmptyString } from "../common"
-import { _getContext } from "./getContext"
+import {
+  validateFieldParse,
+  validateTypeConstraints,
+} from "../schema/types/index.mjs"
+import { $, isNonEmptyString } from "../common/index.mjs"
 
 const fieldParseError = (fieldName, value) => ({
   fields: [fieldName],
   message: `Could not parse field ${fieldName}:${value}`,
 })
 
-const validateAllFieldParse = (record, recordNode) =>
-  $(recordNode.fields, [
+const validateAllFieldParse = (record, model) =>
+  $(model.fields, [
     map(f => ({ name: f.name, parseResult: validateFieldParse(f, record) })),
     reduce((errors, f) => {
       if (f.parseResult.success) return errors
@@ -21,10 +22,10 @@ const validateAllFieldParse = (record, recordNode) =>
     }, []),
   ])
 
-const validateAllTypeConstraints = async (record, recordNode, context) => {
+const validateAllTypeConstraints = async (record, model) => {
   const errors = []
-  for (const field of recordNode.fields) {
-    $(await validateTypeConstraints(field, record, context), [
+  for (const field of model.fields) {
+    $(await validateTypeConstraints(field, record), [
       filter(isNonEmptyString),
       map(m => ({ message: m, fields: [field.name] })),
       each(e => errors.push(e)),
@@ -33,10 +34,10 @@ const validateAllTypeConstraints = async (record, recordNode, context) => {
   return errors
 }
 
-const runRecordValidationRules = (record, recordNode) => {
+const runRecordValidationRules = (record, model) => {
   const runValidationRule = rule => {
     const isValid = compileCode(rule.expressionWhenValid)
-    const expressionContext = { record, _ }
+    const expressionContext = { record }
     return isValid(expressionContext)
       ? { valid: true }
       : {
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ const runRecordValidationRules = (record, recordNode) => {
         }
   }
 
-  return $(recordNode.validationRules, [
+  return $(model.validationRules, [
     map(runValidationRule),
     flatten,
     filter(r => r.valid === false),
@@ -54,23 +55,17 @@ const runRecordValidationRules = (record, recordNode) => {
   ])
 }
 
-export const validate = app => async (record, context) => {
-  context = isNothing(context) ? _getContext(app, record.key) : context
-
-  const recordNode = getExactNodeForKey(app.hierarchy)(record.key)
-  const fieldParseFails = validateAllFieldParse(record, recordNode)
+export const validateRecord = async (schema, record) => {
+  const model = schema.findModel(record.modelId)
+  const fieldParseFails = validateAllFieldParse(record, model)
 
   // non parsing would cause further issues - exit here
   if (!isEmpty(fieldParseFails)) {
     return { isValid: false, errors: fieldParseFails }
   }
 
-  const recordValidationRuleFails = runRecordValidationRules(record, recordNode)
-  const typeContraintFails = await validateAllTypeConstraints(
-    record,
-    recordNode,
-    context
-  )
+  const recordValidationRuleFails = runRecordValidationRules(record, model)
+  const typeContraintFails = await validateAllTypeConstraints(record, model)
 
   if (
     isEmpty(fieldParseFails) &&
diff --git a/packages/common/src/schema/fullSchema.mjs b/packages/common/src/schema/fullSchema.mjs
index 68b89a5bd5..85a9f63106 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/schema/fullSchema.mjs
+++ b/packages/common/src/schema/fullSchema.mjs
@@ -1,15 +1,23 @@
 export const fullSchema = (models, views) => {
   const findModel = idOrName =>
-    models.find(m => m.id === idOrName || m.name === idOrName)
+    models.find(
+      m => m.id === idOrName || m.name.toLowerCase() === idOrName.toLowerCase()
+    )
 
   const findView = idOrName =>
-    views.find(m => m.id === idOrName || m.name === idOrName)
+    views.find(
+      m => m.id === idOrName || m.name.toLowerCase() === idOrName.toLowerCase()
+    )
 
   const findField = (modelIdOrName, fieldName) => {
     const model = models.find(
-      m => m.id === modelIdOrName || m.name === modelIdOrName
+      m =>
+        m.id === modelIdOrName ||
+        m.name.toLowerCase() === modelIdOrName.toLowerCase()
+    )
+    return model.fields.find(
+      f => f.name.toLowerCase() === fieldName.toLowerCase()
     )
-    return model.fields.find(f => f.name === fieldName)
   }
 
   const viewsForModel = modelId => views.filter(v => v.modelId === modelId)
diff --git a/packages/common/src/schema/types/array.mjs b/packages/common/src/schema/types/array.mjs
index 9ec5381c2e..33098e6116 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/schema/types/array.mjs
+++ b/packages/common/src/schema/types/array.mjs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import {
   toNumberOrNull,
   $$,
   isSafeInteger,
-} from "../../common"
+} from "../../common/index.mjs"
 
 const arrayFunctions = () =>
   typeFunctions({
diff --git a/packages/common/src/schema/types/bool.mjs b/packages/common/src/schema/types/bool.mjs
index c49c4402eb..a9d1ea99eb 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/schema/types/bool.mjs
+++ b/packages/common/src/schema/types/bool.mjs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import {
   parsedSuccess,
   getDefaultExport,
 } from "./typeHelpers"
-import { switchCase, defaultCase, isOneOf, toBoolOrNull } from "../../common"
+import { switchCase, defaultCase, isOneOf, toBoolOrNull } from "../../common/index.mjs"
 
 const boolFunctions = typeFunctions({
   default: constant(null),
diff --git a/packages/common/src/schema/types/datetime.mjs b/packages/common/src/schema/types/datetime.mjs
index 675d92d7a1..0521b1953f 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/schema/types/datetime.mjs
+++ b/packages/common/src/schema/types/datetime.mjs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import {
   parsedSuccess,
   getDefaultExport,
 } from "./typeHelpers"
-import { switchCase, defaultCase, toDateOrNull, isNonEmptyArray } from "../../common"
+import { switchCase, defaultCase, toDateOrNull } from "../../common"
 
 const dateFunctions = typeFunctions({
   default: constant(null),
@@ -21,13 +21,9 @@ const parseStringToDate = s =>
     [defaultCase, parsedFailed]
   )(new Date(s))
 
-const isNullOrEmpty = d => 
-  isNull(d) 
-  || (d || "").toString() === ""
+const isNullOrEmpty = d => isNull(d) || (d || "").toString() === ""
 
-const isDateOrEmpty = d => 
-  isDate(d) 
-  || isNullOrEmpty(d)
+const isDateOrEmpty = d => isDate(d) || isNullOrEmpty(d)
 
 const dateTryParse = switchCase(
   [isDateOrEmpty, parsedSuccess],
diff --git a/packages/common/src/schema/types/file.mjs b/packages/common/src/schema/types/file.mjs
index 50a9f9883c..88477d9d7b 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/schema/types/file.mjs
+++ b/packages/common/src/schema/types/file.mjs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import {
   parsedSuccess,
   getDefaultExport,
 } from "./typeHelpers"
-import { switchCase, defaultCase, none, $, splitKey } from "../../common"
+import { switchCase, defaultCase, none, $, splitKey } from "../../common/index.mjs"
 
 const illegalCharacters = "*?\\/:<>|\0\b\f\v"
 
diff --git a/packages/common/src/schema/types/index.mjs b/packages/common/src/schema/types/index.mjs
index 8072b45abe..4c6dd9ff97 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/schema/types/index.mjs
+++ b/packages/common/src/schema/types/index.mjs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import {
   isArray,
   has,
 } from "lodash/fp"
-import { $ } from "../../common"
+import { $ } from "../../common/index.mjs"
 import { parsedSuccess } from "./typeHelpers"
 import string from "./string"
 import bool from "./bool"
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import datetime from "./datetime"
 import array from "./array"
 import link from "./link"
 import file from "./file"
-import { BadRequestError } from "../../common/errors"
+import { BadRequestError } from "../../common/errors.mjs"
 
 const allTypes = () => {
   const basicTypes = {
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ export const validateFieldParse = (field, record) =>
 
 export const getDefaultOptions = type => getType(type).getDefaultOptions()
 
-export const validateTypeConstraints = async (field, record, context) =>
-  await getType(field.type).validateTypeConstraints(field, record, context)
+export const validateTypeConstraints = async (field, record) =>
+  await getType(field.type).validateTypeConstraints(field, record)
 
 export const detectType = value => {
   if (isString(value)) return string
@@ -76,8 +76,7 @@ export const detectType = value => {
   if (isNumber(value)) return number
   if (isDate(value)) return datetime
   if (isArray(value)) return array(detectType(value[0]))
-  if (isObject(value) && has("key")(value) && has("value")(value))
-    return link
+  if (isObject(value) && has("key")(value) && has("value")(value)) return link
   if (isObject(value) && has("relativePath")(value) && has("size")(value))
     return file
 
diff --git a/packages/common/src/schema/types/link.mjs b/packages/common/src/schema/types/link.mjs
index 503f8f0af2..1d2fcbd3b0 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/schema/types/link.mjs
+++ b/packages/common/src/schema/types/link.mjs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-import { isString, isObjectLike, isNull, has, isEmpty } from "lodash/fp"
+import { isString, isObjectLike, isNull, has } from "lodash/fp"
 import {
   typeFunctions,
-  makerule,
   parsedSuccess,
   getDefaultExport,
   parsedFailed,
@@ -11,7 +10,7 @@ import {
   defaultCase,
   isNonEmptyString,
   isArrayOfString,
-} from "../../common"
+} from "../../common/index.mjs"
 
 const linkNothing = () => ({ key: "" })
 
@@ -65,20 +64,7 @@ const options = {
   },
 }
 
-const isEmptyString = s => isString(s) && isEmpty(s)
-
-const ensurelinkExists = async (val, opts, context) =>
-  isEmptyString(val.key) || (await context.linkExists(opts, val.key))
-
-const typeConstraints = [
-  makerule(
-    ensurelinkExists,
-    (val, opts) =>
-      `"${val[opts.displayValue]}" does not exist in options list (key: ${
-        val.key
-      })`
-  ),
-]
+const typeConstraints = []
 
 export default getDefaultExport(
   "link",
diff --git a/packages/common/src/schema/types/number.mjs b/packages/common/src/schema/types/number.mjs
index e4a4a9609c..a3859dae76 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/schema/types/number.mjs
+++ b/packages/common/src/schema/types/number.mjs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import {
   defaultCase,
   toNumberOrNull,
   isSafeInteger,
-} from "../../common"
+} from "../../common/index.mjs"
 
 const numberFunctions = typeFunctions({
   default: constant(null),
diff --git a/packages/common/src/schema/types/object.mjs b/packages/common/src/schema/types/object.mjs
index 7c23d8b185..d5ea57638a 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/schema/types/object.mjs
+++ b/packages/common/src/schema/types/object.mjs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import {
   parsedSuccess,
   getDefaultExport,
 } from "./typeHelpers"
-import { switchCase, defaultCase, $ } from "../../common"
+import { switchCase, defaultCase, $ } from "../../common/index.mjs"
 
 const objectFunctions = (definition, allTypes) =>
   typeFunctions({
diff --git a/packages/common/src/schema/types/string.mjs b/packages/common/src/schema/types/string.mjs
index 1f9acd5a32..38847ee4d0 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/schema/types/string.mjs
+++ b/packages/common/src/schema/types/string.mjs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import {
   toNumberOrNull,
   isSafeInteger,
   isArrayOfString,
-} from "../../common"
+} from "../../common/index.mjs"
 
 const stringFunctions = typeFunctions({
   default: constant(null),
diff --git a/packages/common/src/schema/types/typeHelpers.mjs b/packages/common/src/schema/types/typeHelpers.mjs
index 77a8a0507d..129864dcbf 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/schema/types/typeHelpers.mjs
+++ b/packages/common/src/schema/types/typeHelpers.mjs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { merge } from "lodash"
 import { constant, isUndefined, has, mapValues, cloneDeep } from "lodash/fp"
-import { isNotEmpty } from "../../common"
+import { isNotEmpty } from "../../common/index.mjs"
 
 export const getSafeFieldParser = (tryParse, defaultValueFunctions) => (
   field,
@@ -48,12 +48,11 @@ export const typeFunctions = specificFunctions =>
 
 export const validateTypeConstraints = validationRules => async (
   field,
-  record,
-  context
+  record
 ) => {
   const fieldValue = record[field.name]
   const validateRule = async r =>
-    !(await r.isValid(fieldValue, field.typeOptions, context))
+    !(await r.isValid(fieldValue, field.typeOptions))
       ? r.getMessage(fieldValue, field.typeOptions)
       : ""
 
diff --git a/packages/common/test/testSchema.mjs b/packages/common/test/testSchema.mjs
index 85048cd856..acde5037d8 100644
--- a/packages/common/test/testSchema.mjs
+++ b/packages/common/test/testSchema.mjs
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@ import { newModel } from "../src/schema/models.mjs"
 import { newView } from "../src/schema/views.mjs"
 import { getNewField } from "../src/schema/fields.mjs"
 import { fullSchema } from "../src/schema/fullSchema.mjs"
+import {
+  recordValidationRules,
+  commonRecordValidationRules,
+} from "../src/schema/recordValidationRules.mjs"
 
 export function testSchema() {
   const addFieldToModel = (model, { type, name }) => {
@@ -18,6 +22,10 @@ export function testSchema() {
   addFieldToModel(contactModel, { name: "Is Active", type: "bool" })
   addFieldToModel(contactModel, { name: "Created", type: "datetime" })
 
+  contactModel.validationRules.push(
+    recordValidationRules(commonRecordValidationRules.fieldNotEmpty)
+  )
+
   const activeContactsView = newView(contactModel.id)
   activeContactsView.name = "Active Contacts"
   activeContactsView.map = "if (doc['Is Active']) emit(doc.Name, doc)"
diff --git a/packages/common/test/recordApi.validate.spec.js b/packages/common/test/validateRecord.spec.js
similarity index 74%
rename from packages/common/test/recordApi.validate.spec.js
rename to packages/common/test/validateRecord.spec.js
index 93476ed2b7..6fb9f11635 100644
--- a/packages/common/test/recordApi.validate.spec.js
+++ b/packages/common/test/validateRecord.spec.js
@@ -1,95 +1,55 @@
-import {
-  setupApphierarchy,
-  stubEventHandler,
-  basicAppHierarchyCreator_WithFields,
-  basicAppHierarchyCreator_WithFields_AndIndexes,
-  hierarchyFactory,
-  withFields,
-} from "./specHelpers"
-import { find } from "lodash"
 import { addHours } from "date-fns"
 import { events } from "../src/common"
+import { testSchema } from "./testSchema.mjs"
+import { validateRecord } from "../src/records/validateRecord.mjs"
+import { getNewRecord } from "../src/records/getNewRecord.mjs"
 
 describe("recordApi > validate", () => {
-  it("should return errors when any fields do not parse", async () => {
-    const { recordApi } = await setupApphierarchy(
-      basicAppHierarchyCreator_WithFields
-    )
-    const record = recordApi.getNew("/customers", "customer")
+  it("should return errors when any fields do not parse", () => {
+    const schema = testSchema()
+    const record = getNewRecord(schema, "Contact")
 
-    record.surname = "Ledog"
-    record.isalive = "hello"
-    record.age = "nine"
-    record.createddate = "blah"
+    record.Name = "Ledog"
+    record["Is Active"] = "hello"
+    record.Created = "not a date"
 
-    const validationResult = await recordApi.validate(record)
+    const validationResult = validateRecord(schema, record)
 
     expect(validationResult.isValid).toBe(false)
-    expect(validationResult.errors.length).toBe(3)
+    expect(validationResult.errors.length).toBe(2)
   })
 
-  it("should return errors when mandatory field is empty", async () => {
-    const withValidationRule = (hierarchy, templateApi) => {
-      templateApi.addRecordValidationRule(hierarchy.customerRecord)(
-        templateApi.commonRecordValidationRules.fieldNotEmpty("surname")
-      )
-    }
+  it("should return errors when mandatory field is empty", () => {
+    const schema = testSchema()
+    const record = getNewRecord(schema, "Contact")
+    record.Name = ""
 
-    const hierarchyCreator = hierarchyFactory(withFields, withValidationRule)
-    const { recordApi } = await setupApphierarchy(hierarchyCreator)
-
-    const record = recordApi.getNew("/customers", "customer")
-
-    record.surname = ""
-
-    const validationResult = await recordApi.validate(record)
+    const validationResult = validateRecord(schema, record)
 
     expect(validationResult.isValid).toBe(false)
     expect(validationResult.errors.length).toBe(1)
   })
 
-  it("should return error when string field is beyond maxLength", async () => {
-    const withFieldWithMaxLength = hierarchy => {
-      const surname = find(
-        hierarchy.customerRecord.fields,
-        f => f.name === "surname"
-      )
-      surname.typeOptions.maxLength = 5
-    }
+  it("should return error when string field is beyond maxLength", () => {
+    const schema = testSchema()
+    schema.findField("Contact", "Name").typeOptions.maxLength = 5
+    const record = getNewRecord(schema, "Contact")
+    record.name = "more than 5 characters"
 
-    const hierarchyCreator = hierarchyFactory(
-      withFields,
-      withFieldWithMaxLength
-    )
-    const { recordApi } = await setupApphierarchy(hierarchyCreator)
-
-    const record = recordApi.getNew("/customers", "customer")
-    record.surname = "more than 5 chars"
-
-    const validationResult = await recordApi.validate(record)
+    const validationResult = validateRecord(schema, record)
     expect(validationResult.isValid).toBe(false)
     expect(validationResult.errors.length).toBe(1)
   })
 
-  it("should return error when number field is > maxValue", async () => {
-    const withFieldWithMaxLength = hierarchy => {
-      const age = find(hierarchy.customerRecord.fields, f => f.name === "age")
-      age.typeOptions.maxValue = 10
-      age.typeOptions.minValue = 5
-    }
+  it("should return error when number field is > maxValue", () => {
+    const schema = testSchema()
+    schema.findField("Deal", "Estimated Value").typeOptions.maxValue = 5
+    const record = getNewRecord(schema, "Deal")
+    record["Estimated Value"] = 10
 
-    const hierarchyCreator = hierarchyFactory(
-      withFields,
-      withFieldWithMaxLength
-    )
-    const { recordApi } = await setupApphierarchy(hierarchyCreator)
-
-    const tooOldRecord = recordApi.getNew("/customers", "customer")
-    tooOldRecord.age = 11
-
-    const tooOldResult = await recordApi.validate(tooOldRecord)
-    expect(tooOldResult.isValid).toBe(false)
-    expect(tooOldResult.errors.length).toBe(1)
+    const validationResult = recordApi.validate(schema, record)
+    expect(validationResult.isValid).toBe(false)
+    expect(validationResult.errors.length).toBe(1)
   })
 
   it("should return error when number field is < minValue", async () => {
diff --git a/packages/server/middleware/controllers/record.js b/packages/server/middleware/controllers/record.js
index 2b70409596..b8938bc18d 100644
--- a/packages/server/middleware/controllers/record.js
+++ b/packages/server/middleware/controllers/record.js
@@ -1,21 +1,115 @@
-const couchdb = require("../../db");
+const couchdb = require("../../db")
+const { cloneDeep, mapValues, keyBy, filter, includes } = require("lodash/fp")
+const {
+  validateRecord,
+} = require("../../../common/src/records/validateRecord.mjs")
+const { events } = require("../../../common/src/common/events.mjs")
+const { $, isNonEmptyString } = require("../../../common/src/common")
+import { safeParseField } from "../../../common/src/schema/types"
 
-const controller = {
-  save: async ctx => {
-  },
-  fetch: async ctx => {
-    const db = couchdb.db.use(ctx.params.databaseId)
+async function save(ctx) {
+  const db = couchdb.use(ctx.databaseId)
+  const record = cloneDeep(ctx.body)
 
-    ctx.body = await db.view("database", "all_somemodel", { 
-      include_docs: true,
-      key: ["app"] 
+  if (!ctx.schema.findModel(record._modelId)) {
+    ctx.status = 400
+    ctx.message = `do not recognise modelId : ${record._modelId}`
+    return
+  }
+
+  const validationResult = await validateRecord(ctx.schema, record)
+  if (!validationResult.isValid) {
+    await app.publish(events.recordApi.save.onInvalid, {
+      record,
+      validationResult,
     })
-  },
-  destroy: async ctx => {
-    const databaseId = ctx.params.databaseId;
-    const database = couchdb.db.use(databaseId)
-    ctx.body = await database.destroy(ctx.params.recordId);
-  },
+    ctx.status = 400
+    ctx.message = "record failed validation rules"
+    ctx.body = validationResult
+  }
+
+  if (!record._rev) {
+    await db.insert(record)
+    await app.publish(events.recordApi.save.onRecordCreated, {
+      record: record,
+    })
+  } else {
+    const oldRecord = await _findRecord(db, ctx.schema, record._id)
+    await db.insert(record)
+    await app.publish(events.recordApi.save.onRecordUpdated, {
+      old: oldRecord,
+      new: record,
+    })
+  }
+
+  const savedHead = await db.head(record._id)
+  record._rev = savedHead._rev
+  return record
 }
 
-module.exports = controller;
\ No newline at end of file
+async function fetch(ctx) {
+  const db = couchdb.db.use(ctx.params.databaseId)
+
+  ctx.body = await db.view("database", "all_somemodel", { 
+    include_docs: true,
+    key: ["app"] 
+  })
+}
+
+async function find(ctx) {
+  const db = couchdb.db.use(ctx.params.databaseId)
+  const { body, status } = await _findRecord(db, ctx.schema, ctx.params.id)
+  ctx.status = status
+  ctx.body = body
+}
+
+async function _findRecord(db, schema, id) {
+  let storedData
+  try {
+    storedData = await db.get(id)
+  } catch (err) {
+    return err
+  }
+
+  const model = schema.findModel(storedData._modelId)
+
+  const loadedRecord = $(model.fields, [
+    keyBy("name"),
+    mapValues(f => safeParseField(f, storedData)),
+  ])
+
+  const links = $(model.fields, [
+    filter(
+      f => f.type === "reference" && isNonEmptyString(loadedRecord[f.name].key)
+    ),
+    map(f => ({
+      promise: _findRecord(db, schema, loadedRecord[f.name]._id),
+      index: getNode(app.hierarchy, f.typeOptions.indexNodeKey),
+      field: f,
+    })),
+  ])
+
+  if (links.length > 0) {
+    const refRecords = await Promise.all(map(p => p.promise)(links))
+
+    for (const ref of links) {
+      loadedRecord[ref.field.name] = mapRecord(
+        refRecords[links.indexOf(ref)],
+        ref.index
+      )
+    }
+  }
+
+  loadedRecord._rev = storedData._rev
+  loadedRecord._id = storedData._id
+  loadedRecord._modelId = storedData._modelId
+  return loadedRecord
+}
+
+async function destroy(ctx) {
+  const databaseId = ctx.params.databaseId;
+  const database = couchdb.db.use(databaseId)
+  ctx.body = await database.destroy(ctx.params.recordId);
+}
+
+module.exports = {dave, fetch, destroy, find};
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/server/middleware/routes/tests/record.spec.js b/packages/server/middleware/routes/tests/record.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..231794a00a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/server/middleware/routes/tests/record.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+const { testSchema } = require("../../common/test/testSchema")
+
+describe("record persistence", () => {
+  it("should save a record", async () => {
+
+  })
+})
+
+
diff --git a/packages/server/tests/record.spec.js b/packages/server/tests/record.spec.js
deleted file mode 100644
index ec7e27255a..0000000000
--- a/packages/server/tests/record.spec.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-const { testSchema } = require("../../common/test/testSchema")
-
-describe("record persistence", async () => {
-  it("should ")
-})
-
-
diff --git a/packages/server/yarn.lock b/packages/server/yarn.lock
index d2050153b2..0c6c5e0a20 100644
--- a/packages/server/yarn.lock
+++ b/packages/server/yarn.lock
@@ -2983,7 +2983,7 @@ lodash.sortby@^4.7.0:
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/lodash.sortby/-/lodash.sortby-4.7.0.tgz#edd14c824e2cc9c1e0b0a1b42bb5210516a42438"
   integrity sha1-7dFMgk4sycHgsKG0K7UhBRakJDg=
 
-lodash@^4.17.11, lodash@^4.17.13, lodash@^4.17.15, lodash@^4.17.4, lodash@^4.2.1:
+lodash@^4.17.11, lodash@^4.17.13, lodash@^4.17.4, lodash@^4.2.1:
   version "4.17.15"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/lodash/-/lodash-4.17.15.tgz#b447f6670a0455bbfeedd11392eff330ea097548"
   integrity sha512-8xOcRHvCjnocdS5cpwXQXVzmmh5e5+saE2QGoeQmbKmRS6J3VQppPOIt0MnmE+4xlZoumy0GPG0D0MVIQbNA1A==